Featured Article from Conferencing

TMCnet Conferencing Week in Review

Today, the conferencing industry has introduced countless innovative benefits to companies of all sizes and all kinds by reducing expensive travel costs and by creating more opportunity to attend meetings that otherwise, key people would be able to attend.

Entertainment and audio tech provider ION recently introduced its new Bluetooth speaker system, Talking Point, a tabletop speaker that utilizes the user’s mobile phone as a conference phone. Talking Point hosts a simple setup, rather than requiring a separate system for audio meetings.

With the Bluetooth Cordless Phone System, ION has created the first home phone system focalized for the smartphone. With one base and three separate handsets, the smartphone connects with the base via Bluetooth while also receiving a charge. Additionally, the handsets included then tap into the unique ability of the smartphone to use a DECT 6.0 connection.

“Whether you’re at home and have your hands full preparing dinner, or you’re in the office jotting down notes during an important call, with Talking Point, you’ll hear and be heard loud and clear,” said ION Product Manager Wendy Fortin.

In other conferencing news, FuzeBox, a company engaged in the enterprise collaboration space, has been positioned in Gartner’s 2012 Web Conferencing Magic Quadrant. Gartner recognized Fuzebox for its ability to execute on its portfolio of meetings and video conferencing solutions.

FuzeBox’s mobile video conferencing solution disrupts bulky telepresence systems that are too costly. FuzeBox is effective for startups because its offerings are less expensive and more dynamic, focusing on cutting-edge technology with an unmatched user interface.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth this year with the release of our iPhone, PC, Android and iPad apps, a $20M Series A financing round led by Index Ventures, and our launch of the first-ever native video conferencing app designed specifically for the Mac,” said Jeff Cavins, CEO of FuzeBox. “We see the future of visual collaboration advancing across four major pillars: mobility, interoperability, scalability and integratability – and this is where we have focused our attention.”

Lastly, Arkadin is adding a new location in Mexico City meet its demand in the region. So, businesses of every size in Mexico can access Arkadin’s suite of audio and Web conferencing services, as well as local customer service teams. While Arkadin is the first major service provider to set up local operations there, analysts predict there will be a demand for conferencing solutions in Mexico.

Since 2011, Web conferencing revenue in the area grew 45 percent, while audio conferencing grew 73 percent. Thanks to the growing need for businesses to collaborate in a mobile world, the demand for Web and audio conferencing has never been greater. Business travel can also be challenging and expensive, so as Web conferencing makes that less necessary, the practice becomes more desirable.

"Our business is founded on the principle that no one understands local customer needs better than support teams that live in the same country and speak the same language," said Thomas Valantin, managing director of Latin America for Arkadin. "Today we are the most global and local of service providers. Our Mexico City office includes local sales, customer service and support teams for an enterprise level of service with the personalized attention of a local provider who understands the cultural influences."

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